Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, has accused the BBC of promoting "extreme
right-wing smears" against Gordon Brown over his health.

The effective deputy prime minister launched a scathing attack on the corporation over an interview where Mr Brown was asked if he was dependent on prescription drugs.

On Sunday, Andrew Marr, the BBC’s main political presenter, shocked the Prime Minister during a live television interview on the opening day of Labour’s annual conference in Brighton by asking whether he took pills to help him “get through".

Mr Marr and the BBC have said the question was legitimate.

Mr Brown’s health has been the subject of growing speculation in recent days, and become part of political debate about whether he will hang on as Prime Minister until the general election next year.

He was asked about his eyesight in a US TV interview last week. Blind in one eye from childhood, Mr Brown has denied the sight in his other eye is failing.